The trance priests of the Baule people, during their dances in the ritual of the ‘Do’ cult, use such mallets to hit small, bell-shaped gongs of iron, in order to fall into a deep trance due to the rhythmic sounds of the gong. The latter are believed to keep all evil spirits away from the ceremony. These gong mallets are also called ‘Laoure’ or ‘Lowre’. The present gong mallet ‘Laoure’ is especially beautiful and carefully executed. Carved from a piece of brown, hard wood, it displays a handle in the form of two smooth hanks, spirally twisted around each other, and it is pierced at the bottom.
The ‘beating’ upper part, or ‘head’, is plastically formed in semicircular shape and in relief. The back features the only really ‘secret’ mask of the Baule people, the buffalo mask ‘Bo nun Amuin’, in three-dimensional carving. It represents a buffalo with closed mouth and rows of teeth on both sides.

This mask ‘Bo nun Amuin’ appears only at the dances of male secret groups, and may only be seen by men. Women, children and the uninitiated may not see this mask – in contrast to the ‘Goli’ buffalo masks with open mouth, which may be seen during the ‘Goli’ dances by everyone, including women and children. In addition to the rare, ‘secret’ mask, this ritual gong mallet displays a surprisingly dramatic scene in carved relief: on one side, a snake, desirous for the chase, creeps up on a seated bird from behind – while on the other side one can see that the snake’s tail is itself caught by a crocodile. According to the saying: he who digs a hole for another.... The borders of the mallet head, as well as the surfaces near the figural representations, display small-scale, geometric decoration, and at the front rounded area, a ‘beating cushion’ of originally white cotton threads is tied into holes. Overall, a highly interesting ritual object, completely devoid of significant damage, and with a very good, old shiny patina due to protracted use.
Length: c. 23 cm; width: 8.5 cm (mallet head).
First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Austrian collection.

Lit.:
‘Baule. African Art - Western Eyes’ by Susan M. Vogel, ill. p. 28, 29, 124, 128, 205, 229; ‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 49, ill. 6.